Empowering agency: Western Sydney migrant and refugee youths' perspectives on sexual and reproductive health and rights

Abstract

Objectives: Migrant and refugee youth (MRY) in Australia experience poorer sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes and face challenges including cross-cultural, religious and language clashes that impact their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) agency. Whilst these challenges are known, there has been limited research into the socioecological factors that act as barriers or facilitators to SRHR for MRY in Greater Western Sydney. Hence, this project aims to identify and explore the socioecological factors that characterise SRHR from the perspectives of MRY in Western Sydney, including the barriers and facilitators to SRH knowledge, literacy, support needs, and service accessibility and utilisation. Such knowledge is crucial to empower MRY and centre their voices in SRHR policy and decision-making.

Methods: This project utilised a qualitative methodology employing socioecological theory as an underpinning framework to guide a thematic analysis of focus group data that was collected as a component of the Empowering Agency: Western Sydney Migrant and Refugee Youths' Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project. A total of 17 focus groups with MRY aged 16-26 living in Greater Western Sydney were conducted, with the data analysed thematically in line with socioecological theory.

Results: A total of 87 MRY from diverse cultural, religious, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds participated in the focus groups. Various socioecological influences were found to impact the SRHR of MRY. Key themes at the microsystem and mesosystem level include education (and knowledge), access to services, peer dynamics, support networks, stigma, and gender disparities, whilst themes at the exosystem and macrosystem include the internet and social media, morals and religious beliefs, and cultural and societal norms.

Conclusion: The findings from this project reflect the need for a collaborative strategy that empowers and works with MRY to consider their specific SRHR needs in service provision, policy, and program design to ensure these are increasingly youth-friendly and culturally appropriate. Centring the voices of MRY is vital for empowering their decision-making capacity and for the development of human rights-based models aimed at improving SRHR agency. Such a strategy is likely to contribute to improved SRH outcomes for MRY across multicultural settings nationally.

Date of Thesis submission	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Supervisor	Sowbhagya Micheal (Supervisor) & Tinashe Dune (Supervisor)